Kevin

Many of us are making numerous online purchases as the holiday season approaches. It’s important to protect your both your data and your money during this time.

Don’t make the mistake of choosing convenience over security during your cyber purchases. If you were a victim of theft during a recent data breach, you should be extra careful according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Here are three courses of action to consider before you shop online:

• Extended Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes - If you are a victim of identity theft and have created an Identity Theft Report, you may want to place an extended fraud alert or a credit freeze on your credit file. This action helps to protect your personal data. Know what accounts are open in your name and their financial activity.
• Check your credit report - Your credit report affects your ability to get a loan or job, and could help you avoid identity theft.  You can get a truly free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com.
• 10 ways to stay safe on WiFi networks – Not all WiFi networks are created equally. In fact, some are downright dangerous. Learn how to protect yourself before you share private data over a public network.

Unfortunately, protecting your personal data requires an ongoing effort by yourself. Thieves want you to relax your online habits. Simply stated, if you are online, you are under attack.

To help keep the holidays happy, invest a few moments in protecting yourself, your data, and your money.